Football: CU Buffs' Will Oliver confident on kickoffs

With senior Justin Castor out for the season with a major hip injury, junior place kicker Will Oliver will handle kickoff duties this season.

Castor, Oliver and Zach Grossnickle split those duties last year, without a great deal of success. Of Oliver's seven kickoff attempts, just one was deep enough for a touchback. He expects to be better and more consistent in that area this year.

"I'm more confident than I think I've ever been," he said. "This camp and summer I've been hitting the ball way better than I ever have been."

MacIntyre said Oliver has consistently kicked the ball into the end zone during camp.

"We'll see how that goes when the jitters set in, but he's been kicking really well," MacIntyre said. "We've rested his leg to make sure we're good on that. I feel good about Will's stroke and his strength and everything."

Castor suffered an avulsion on Aug. 21 and faces a long road to recovery. He is set to graduate in May, but does have a redshirt year to use if he wants to try to come back and play next year.